More than 60 national religious leaders speak out in support of LGBTQI United Methodist Clergy

Statement of support celebrates 111 United Methodist LGBTQI clergy, affirms the call of LGBTQI people to ministry, and prays for a world where sexual and gender diversity are understood as a blessing.

A week ago, 111 United Methodist clergy and candidates released a “love letter” in which they came out to their denomination as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex people. Despite the fact that the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Book of Discipline bans the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals, they released their letter on the eve of the UMC’s quadrennial General Conference, placing their ministry and livelihood at risk.

Today, responding to their coming out letter, a broad coalition of national faith leaders outside of the United Methodist Church released a statement in support of these clergy and candidates. The statement celebrates the 111 United Methodist clergy who “risked their own security in order to share the fullness of their gifts with their faith communities and the United Methodist Church.”

Signed by more than 60 national faith leaders across multiple religious traditions, the statement calls the decision of these UMC clergy to come out “an example for all people of faith of what it means to embody one’s faith and sexuality with wholeness and integrity.” The statement affirms the call of LGBTQI people to ministry and embraces the gifts that LGBTQI people bring to faith communities. The statement also notes “the long history of LGBTQI people answering the call to serve in faith communities, including as religious leaders,” recognizing that “this service has furthered justice, transformation, and flourishing in both faith communities and society.” The statement of support concludes in a prayer that “the United Methodist Church will stop harming LGBTQI persons” and for a “world where sexual and gender diversity are understood as a blessing.

Endorsers include the heads of five religious denominations, top denominational officials, leaders of national faith organizations, eleven seminary presidents or divinity school deans, theologians, and activists working at the intersection of religion and LGBTQ justice.

The Religious Institute (www.religiousinstitute.org), based in Westport, CT, is a nonprofit, multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education and justice in faith communities and society. More than 8,500 clergy, seminary presidents and deans, religious scholars and other religious leaders representing more than 50 faith traditions are part of the Religious Institute’s national religious leaders network.